Clay Risen
Posts
Lorenza de’ Medici, Who Elevated Italian Cooking, Is Dead at 97
A descendant of a storied family, she was an author, TV host and cooking school director who showed that Italian cuisine was about more than...
Francine Pascal, Creator of ‘Sweet Valley High’ Book Series, Dies at 92
The series and its many spinoffs have sold more than 200 million copies and revolutionized the world of young adult publishing.
Judy Belushi Pisano, Who Defended Her Husband’s Legacy, Dies at 73
She was married to John Belushi until his fatal drug overdose in 1982. She went on to celebrate his comic talent in books and a...
Shelley Duvall, Star of ‘The Shining’ and ‘Nashville,’ Dies at 75
Her lithesome features and quirky screen presence made her a popular figure in 1970s movies, particularly Robert Altman’s.
Mary Martin, Who Gave Many Music Stars Their Start, Dies at 85
Her loyalty to artists and her eye for talent made her a force in a male-dominated business. Among her accomplishments: introducing Bob Dylan to the...
Kinky Friedman, Musician and Humorist Who Slew Sacred Cows, Dies at 79
He and his band, the Texas Jewboys, won acclaim for their satirical takes on American culture. He later wrote detective novels and ran for Texas...
Jeremy Tepper, Alt-Country Impressario, Dies at 60
As a journalist, singer, label owner and radio producer, he fostered a community of musicians on the outskirts of Americana.
Bob Kelley, Who Made the Kelley Blue Book an Authority on Cars, Dies at 96
He knew all the data that went into determining a vehicle’s price, but he insisted that it was as much an art as it was...
Fred Roos, Casting Director and Coppola Collaborator, Dies at 89
Widely considered to have the best eye for talent in Hollywood, he shared the best-picture Oscar with Francis Ford Coppola for “The Godfather Part II.”
Frank Shrontz, 92, Dies; Led Boeing in the Last of Its Golden Years
Known for his leadership and his commitment to company culture, he left as chief executive in 1996, opening the door to a corporate makeover.